Apparatus for chlorination



Jan. 21, 1958 D. J. LE$LIE APPARATUS FOR CHLORINATION File'd June 28,1954 Fewer J1: X o- INVENTOR.

147'7'02NEY5.

DONALD J; LESLIE,

llIFkHi-ll United APPARATUS FOR CI RORINATION Donald J. Leslie,Pasadena, Calif. Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,531

1 Claim. (Cl. 23-271) tates atent O combines with water in the presenceof sunlight (liberating oxygen and producing hydrochloric acid) and alsodissipates to some extent into the atmosphere, it is necessary from timeto time to introduce additional chlorine. Maintaining the concentrationof chlorine low obviously reduces the cost of material for chlorinationof water.

For these considerations, it has been found that appropriate germicidalefiects can be achieved with a mini mum amount of chlorine byperiodically and quickly introducing chlorine in relatively highconcentrations during the night. It is an object of this invention toprovide an improved system for automatically introducing chlorine incontrolled amounts in this manner.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple system ofthis character using easily handled soluble masses of material readilyyielding chlorine, obviating the handling of concentrated chlorinesolutions.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatusfor dissolving such material, using a jet or spray of water impingingthereupon, and in which the rate of dissolving the material is easilyadjusted. This is accomplished by positioning the spray head in acontainer for the material so that the water acts upon more or lessthereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system incorporatingan apparatus of this character that is intermittently operable and inwhich the amount of active constituent introduced into the system duringeach cycle is accurately predetermined.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system of thischaracter that utilizes only simple and inexpensive structure requiringlittle maintenance.

It is another object of this invention to provide a chlorinator or thelike that can satisfy the requirements of systems of differentcapacities.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of this invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system embody ing the presentinvention, the chlorinator elements being shown on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the chlorinatorshown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 3-3of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 there is shown, by way of example, a swimming pool 10 intowhich there is desired to be intermittently introduced a certain amountof chlorine.

A pump 11 is adapted to circulate the water from the swimming pool 10for filtering purposes.

A conduit 13, communicating with the bottom ,of the pool 10, charges thepump 11. The pump circuiates the water back to the pool through a returnconduit 14. A filter 12 is interposed in this return conduit. The pump11 may also be charged by water flowing over a skimming ledge (notshown).

A motor 15 for the pump has an energizing circuit including aclock-operated switch 16. This usual arrangement makes it possibleautomatically to circulate the water during the nighttime when the poolis ordinarily not used.

In order to introduce chlorine into the system, a chlorinator 17 isprovided. Water passes through the chlorinator, taking in solution aquantity of chlorine, and then rejoins the main body of water. To supplywater under pressure to the chlorinator 17, a pipe 18 is provided thatconnects with the return conduit 14. The Water from the chlorinator 17is withdrawn through a pipe 19 that connects with the inlet conduit 13for the pump 11. A trap or small filter 20 is shown in the chlori natorsupply conduit l8.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the chlorinator 17 comprises a translucent ortransparent container 21, in this instance generally of cylindricalform. It is close-:1 at opposite ends by a ported cover 22 and a bottomwall 23. A perforated plate or disc 24, located at an intermediateheight in the container 21, divides the inside of the container into anupper space 25 and a lower space 26. Rods 27, projecting upwardlythrough the container bottom 23, serve to support the plate 24. Theperiphery of the plate or disc 24 conforms in size and configuration tothe interior wall of the container 21.

Pellets or chunks 28 are adapted to be placed in and substantially fillthe upper space 25, the plate 24 providing a base preventing theirpassage to the lower space 26. These pellets or pieces may be of calciumhypochlorite or other water-soluble material capable of yielding thedesired constituent, in this instance chlorine in elemental form.Calcium hypochlorite in a well known manner reacts with water to produceelemental chlorine. The transparent container 21 makes it possiblevisually to ascertain whether the chlorinator is appropriately suppliedwith material.

The pellets or chunks 28 are introduced into the space 25 through theport 29 in the container cover 22 to substantially fill the space 25. Aremovable plug or stop 30, which may be of resilient material, isprovided for closing the port 29.

A spray pipe 31, connected to the end of the pipe 18, supplies water tothe upper space 25 to dissolve the pellets 28. The spray pipe 31projects upwardly through a central opening 32 in the container bottomwall 23, and upwardly with minimum clearance through a central opening33 in the supporting plate 24.

The upper end of the spray pipe 31 has a series of small spray orificessubstantially equiangularly spaced about the axis of the pipe 31. Theseorifices form the only discharge openings from the spray pipe 31. Thesize and configuration of the orifices and their number with respect tothe pressure available at the pipe 31 are such that relatively highvelocity jets are provided. These jets impinge upon the pellets orchunks with substantial force and cause them to be disintegrated anddissolved.

The water in which the chlorine active ingredient has been dissolvedsettles through the pellets to the plate 24.

the plate '24, permit the water to pass tothe lower container space 26.The lower container space 26 commumcates with the pipe 19 through anoutlet passage35- formed in the container bottom 23. A suitablefittingis provided for establishing appropriate connection ofQthepipef-U. The water from the chlorinator returns; to the inlet. sideofthepump 11. r I a The pump 11 effectively exhausts the waterfrom thelower chlorinator space 26,-andalso withdrawssomeof the air from thecontainer 21.. Since apartial vacuum exists in the container 21,:the.plug 30 isurged tightly. to close the port 29 by the preponderance ofatmospheric pressure. The plug 30, despite its simplicity,:thus-efiec-The higher the location of the water jets with respect, to the plate 24in the upper container space 25, the more pellets or chunks there arethrough which the water gravitates. Accordingly, the higher the spraypipe '31, the higher the concentration of the solution obtained and thegreater the rate at which chlorine is added to the'system. Adjustment ofthe concentration is thus accomplished'by providing for relativevertical adjustment of the spray pipe 31 and the plate 24.

A clamp nut 36, threadedly engaging a central depending boss 37 aboutthe central bottom opening 32, cooper:

' ates with a contractible gasket or packing 38. The gasket or packing38 may be contracted by tightening the locking nut 36. Contraction ofthe gasket 38 serves to provide a seal between the exterior of the pipe31 andthe container 2 1'and also serves to hold the pipe 31 in anadjusted vertical position. 7 r

The supply pipe 18 for the chlorinator 17 includes a hose or otherflexible element 39'wherebyadjus'tmen't' of the position of the spraypipe 31 does not interfere with its appropriate connection with thechlorinator supply pipe 18. Optionally, the verticalposition of the.plate 24: can be adjusted to vary the vertical spacing betweenthe'operafive end of the spray pipe 31 and the plate 24.

Small perforations 34, extendin throughout the area 7 ing differentapparatus.

When the operation of the chlorinator 17 is discontinued "by closure ofthe valve 40, the pump 11 may continue in operation.

To ensure against uncontrolled introduction of chlorine into the system,the level of the chlorinator is so chosen that, during shut-downcondition of the pump, water never rises above the plate 24. If thecontainer 21 is vented to the atmosphere, the plate 24' wouldofinecessity be required to be above the normal. level of the pool toensure this result. Additional allowance mustbe made in' the arrangementshown, since the air in thezcontainer is partially exhausted.

In order to make the most efiicient'use of the space in the container 21for the pellets or chunks 28, the vertical position of the plate 24 maybe adjusted to the critical minimum height necessary to ensureagainst-the uncontrolled: introduction of chlorine during shut-downcondition; This adjustment maybe'accomplished by providing supportingrods 27 of difierent length or, optionallyfby 7 making provisionsforadjusting the:ver-ticalpositionofthe rods 27 in the container.

The mere operation of .thexcircula'ting system-does not disturb theshut-down condition of the chlorinator.

Since the quantity of water in different-systems may differsubstantially, differentquantities: of'chlorine -must be introduced toprovide. the sameoptim'um germicidal efi'ects- Since. the time requiredto introduce thisfquan tity,-whatever'it may be, .is desirably uniformly'smalL-it is I obvious thatdifierent rates of introducing 'chlorine forthe'difterent: systems imust be provided. The" adjustable spraypipe 31makes itipossible toachieve materially difierent rates. forwdifierentinstallations, without-requir- A standard size chlorinator can,therefore, exactly satisfy the needs'of different: systems,

as-Well as provide for adjustmentof the rate ofintroduc -In apparatus ofthe character described: *a container Since thejets are uniformlylocated about the pipe, the

uppermost-material falls-uniformly as the material isconsumed, wherebyuniform operation is ensured.

By adding a predetermined quantity of chlorine to the system: once everyforty-eight hours, the desirable g'ermicidal eifects are achieved; Inorder to obtain the desired concentration; the-l'engthof time thatthechlorinator is operative andtherate-at'which the pellets or pieces 28are dissolved is controlled. For controlling the interval of operation,an electromagnetically operated valve '40 is provided for thechlorinator supply pipe 18, the electromagnetically operated valvehaving an energizatio'n circuit including aclock-operated switch 41. Theclock-operated switch in this instanceis designed to operateon' aforty-eight hour basis; Since the operation of the chlorinator isdependent upon operation of the pump 11, the clock-operated switch 41isso set as to permit operation only when the pump 11 is inoperation. Ifdesired, the energizationcircuit-for theclock-operated switch 41 may beelectrically dependent-upon the closing of the clockoperated switch 16.

v ,To minimize' the quantity-"of "chlorine used and'yet-obtainappropriateegermicidal 'etfeets, the chlorine isadded quite quickly.-A'ccordingly, the period I of 'operation'of therchlorinator should'besmall, and the rate of adding the chlorine high. 'A'high rate of'addingchlorine is made possiblebyth'epresent'system. v-

having a lower wall and side walls; a. perforated plate peripherallyfitting the side walls and supported 'above the bottom-wall, anddividing thecontainer into an upper space and a lower space;- meansclosing the -upper-end ofv the container; conduit means forsupplyingli'quid under pressure and projecting through the lowerwall'and the plate andfterminating in the upper space;"said' corrduit meanshaving .m'eans'zlo'cated in saidupperspace providing-laterally directedcircularly arranged liquid outlets; said conduit being adjustableselectivelytopo sition. itsoutlet' means abovetheplate; meansfor secur-441,284 Coifey. =NOV-;,.25,, 11890 1,246,661 Rothweiler .Q .NOV.1:3,;11917 1,692,706 Sealey Novx20, 1928 1 ,960,936 Brody May"29,- 19342,014,037 Burkett et a1. ..a Sept.;,.10, .1935 2,099,836 Blanchard et alNov.-,23,..1937 2,190,060 Fager Feb.1,1 3, 1940 2,308,612 Lehmkllhl Jan.19,} 19,43 2,330,328 Bachman Sept. 18, [1943 2,363,622 Rice NOV. 28,1944 2,371,720 Stine Mar. 20, 1945 2,387,945 MCDOW Oct. 30; 19452,400,439 Romans .May 14,1946 2,541,799 7 White Fell. 13,4951 2,546,502Harrington Mar, 27,1951 2,670,976 Owen :2, 1954 2,738,323 Tepas n Mar.113,219.56

FOREIGN PATENTS 57,265 Germany "1.-..-- Oct; 523,51890

